Home automation company ecobee will soon be launching its next-gen thermostat, dubbed the ecobee4. Like previous thermostats in ecobee’s lineup, the ecobee4 is a smart thermostat that can be controlled either through the built-in touchscreen, ecobee’s companion app, and with this launch, Alexa voice controls. The device even goes up for pre-order today for those who are interested in picking one up.

The clean technology startup that brought WiFi thermostats to life is hoping to reach more homes across North America after securing $35-million in funding led by Toronto’s Thomvest Asset Management Inc., with participation from Amazon’s Alexa Fund and Toronto’s Relay Ventures.

Challenging Nest and Honeywell are three startups with different approaches to use your thermostat to save you money. Companies are rapidly launching smart thermostats to be not left behind. Honeywell the incumbent leader has a Smart Wifi thermostat & there is a smart thermostat from Nest, the fast emerging leader in the connected home space.

CastleOS is an operating system for the smart home, allowing universal control of all your smart devices from any device or location, or with your voice by simply speaking out loud to your home!

CastleOS integrates support for more smart devices and protocols than any other home automation system. Only CastleOS supports X10, INSTEON, Z-Wave, UPB, WeMo, LightwaveRF, Nest, Sonos, Ecobee, and others right out of the box.

Apple, Google and Amazon have been investing in IoT to achieve first-mover advantage. In 2014 Apple announced the launch of HomeKit, marketed as home automation platform. The first shipment of devices, manufactured by Ecobee and Phillips Hue, are set to appear in retail later in 2015.